（9）Unit 3 Times change！——高二英语外研版寒假作业一、阅读理解1. We are the products of evolution, and not just evolution that occurred billions of years ago. As scientists look deeper into our genes (基因), they are finding examples of human evolution in just the past few thousand years. People in Ethiopian highlands have adapted to living at high altitudes. Cattle-raising people in East Africa and northern Europe have gained a mutation(突变) that helps them digest milk as adults.On Thursday in an article published in Cell, a team of researchers reported a new kind of adaptation—not to air or to food, but to the ocean. A group of sea-dwelling people in Southeast Asia have evolved into better divers. The Bajau, as these people are known, number in the hundreds of thousands in Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. They have traditionally lived on houseboats; in recent times, they've also built houses on stilts (支柱) in coastal waters. "They are simply a stranger to the land," said Rodney C. Jubilado, a University of Hawaii researcher who studies the Bajau.Dr. Jubilado first met the Bajau while growing up on Samal Island in the Philippines. They made a living as divers, spearfishing or harvesting shellfish. "We were so amazed that they could stay underwater much longer than us local islanders," Dr. Jubilado said. "I could see them actually walking under the sea."In 2015, Melissa Ilardo, then a graduate student in genetics at the University of Copenhagen, heard about the Bajau. She wondered if centuries of diving could have led to the evolution of physical characteristics that made the task easier for them. "It seemed like the perfect chance for natural selection to act on a population," said Dr. Ilardo. She also said there were likely a number of other genes that help the Bajau dive.1.What does the author want to tell us by the examples in Paragraph 1 ?A.Environmental adaptation of cattle raisers.B.New knowledge of human evolution.C.Recent findings of human origin.D.Significance of food selection.2.Where do the Bajau build their houses?A.In valleys.B.Near rivers.C.On the beach.D.Off the coast.3.Why was the young Jubilado astonished at the Bajau?A.They could walk on stilts all day.B.They had a superb way of fishing.C.They could stay long underwater.D.They lived on both land and water.4.What can be a suitable title for the text?A.Bodies Remodeled for a Life at SeaB.Highlanders' Survival SkillsC.Basic Methods of Genetic ResearchD.The World's Best Divers2. Organic food is very popular. It is also expensive. Some organic food costs twice as much as non-organic food, but new parents and pet owners are willing to pay up to 200% more for organic food. However, there are people who think it is a waste of money.There is one main difference between organic and non-organic food. Organic farms do not use agricultural chemicals, such as pesticides. In many countries organic foods have special labels. These guarantee that the products are natural.Some people think organic means locally grown. Originally this was true. Over time organic farming became more difficult. The demand for organic food grew larger than the supply. Small companies had to sell out to large companies. There weren't enough organic ingredients (原料), such as grain and cattle. This made it difficult for many organic companies to stay in business. Today, many large companies have an organic line of products.Is organic food more nutritious? This is part of the debate. Many farmers and consumers believe it is. They think agricultural chemicals cause health problems such as cancer. Many health professionals disagree. Few studies prove that organic foods prevent health problems. Health specialists worry more about bacteria (病毒), such as E.coli and salmonella. These can get into contact with organic and non-organic food. Doctors recommend washing produce very carefully. Handling meat carefully is important too.Most people agree that naturally grown food tastes better. Is tastier food worth the extra money? This is a matter of opinion. Whether it is healthier or not may require more research. However, organic consumers argue it is better to be safe than sorry.1.What is probably the major concern of organic food consumers?A.Freshness.B.Price.C.Safety.D.Variety.2.What is the doctors' suggestion?A.Grow your own food.B.Reduce the use of pesticides.C.Buy large companies' products.D.Make sure the food is clean.3.Which of the following do most people agree on organic food?A.It is more nutritious.B.It is easier to grow.C.It contains more fat.D.It tastes better.4.Where does this text probably come from?A.A recipe book.B.A health magazine.C.A medical report.D.A chemistry paper.3. Surrounded by the sea off the coast in Mid-Norway, there is an island called Myken. This small island has about ten permanent residents, and for more than 50 years has been supplied with electricity via a 32-kilometre undersea cable (电缆). A break that appeared in the cable last autumn resulted in two months without power, so the island community started looking into a better way of sourcing their electricity."Myken is far out at sea, so as far as possible it should be taking care of things itself," says Trude Tokle, who is the project manager of Myken's energy project. "This is why we want Myken to become entirely self-sufficient in energy. It is also important to take the environment into consideration," she says.Many point to the idea that the solution may lie in a hydrogen(氢) plant, specifically tailored for small islands. The "raw materials" for hydrogen production come from nature itself in the form of the sun and wind. Researchers have calculated that energy costs will be lower by using hydrogen production than the undersea cable option. And it is possible to store energy in the form of hydrogen for longer periods. This means that supplies will not have to rely on a lot of expensive batteries or external energy sources, even during periods when the sun isn't shining, or the wind isn't blowing.The Myken project has attracted several technology companies. They are currently working on a pilot project. The project involves experiments on the feasibility(可行性) of the hydrogen system in which electricity is generated from solar and wind sources. The electricity can be used immediately, but during periods when all the energy generated is not required, the spare energy can be used to split seawater into hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen can be stored in a tank, and used later to generate electricity. The pilot project will help researchers know more about how effectively the system will work in the hydrogen plant. Since the island has a distillery(酿酒厂), where the distillation (蒸溜) process relies on energy, a hydrogen plant on Myken offers aneven greater environmental benefit. Spare heat from the hydrogen system can also be used for the heating part in the distillation process."In Norway alone there are about 300 islands inhabited all year round by small populations," says Kyrre Sundseth, a hydrogen researcher in Norway. "All of these islands may be candidates for using this technology. In global terms we're talking about 10,000 similar islands."1.Why is a hydrogen plant suitable for Myken?A.It is perfect in size for small islands.B.It can send electricity to faraway places.C.It will restore local natural environment.D.It provides green and sustainable energy.2.What is mainly talked about in Paragraph 4?A.The study on the energy storage.B.The test on the hydrogen system.C.The experiment on the raw materials.D.The research on the innovation of the pilot project.3.According to the passage, a hydrogen plant will ________.A.produce purified seawaterB.prove more effective workC.contribute in more than one wayD.benefit from the distillation process4.What does Kyrre Sundseth think of the project?A.Promising.B.Systematic.C.Irreplaceable.D.Time-saving.4. It's lunchtime, and I'm eager to try a new establishment that opened near our office in midtown Manhattan. I walk to the shiny new storefront, place my order and make my way to the counter(柜台) to pay. As I dig into my wallet and start to pull out some cash, the person behind the counter interrupts me. "No cash, please!" says the cashier.These days, establishments that no longer accept cash have increased greatly. It's long been said that "cash is king", but the tendency could be turning in the US. While cash continues to be the most common payment method among consumers, its usage is declining. The use of cash in 2019 dropped by 3 percentage points to 30 percent of all transactions(交易) in just two years, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco's 2020 Diary of Consumer Payment Choice. What's more, because cash is most likely to be used in small transactions ($ 10 or less), it accounted for only 9 percent of the total payment value in the same year. The use of cards, at the same time, has held steady, and mobile payments have begun to grow.Nearly cashless societies are already a reality outside the US. In Sweden, cash accounts for only 2 percent of the value of all payments, and total cash in circulation accounts for just 1 percent of Swedish GDP. China, meanwhile, leads the way in mobile payments, recording more than $ 20 trillion in 2019.But should a cashless future be accepted enthusiastically?It's true that not handling cash could allow for an increase in speed and efficiency(效率). Cashless payments, however, have their downside. We might start to see a rise in cybercrimes(网络犯罪), while a cashless society could decrease physical crimes. Critics argue that cashless establishments unfairly affect those who are less likely to have access to noncash payment methods—namely the unbanked/underbanked. According to the Pew Research Center, those in households earning less than $ 30,000 per year are more likely to use cash than those with higher incomes.A cashless society, no doubt, has its advantages, but it can also bring a host of new challenges.1.What problem does the author have at lunchtime?A.He loses his way.B.He forgets to bring cash.C.He fails to have his lunch.D.He is asked not to pay in cash.2.What can we learn about the use of cash in the US in 2019?A.It saw a fall.B.It only happened in small transactions.C.It accounted for 3% of all its transactions.D.It was less frequent than the use of mobile payments.3.Why does the author mention Sweden and China?A.To list the benefits of cashless payments.B.To voice his doubt about cashless societies.C.To show the global spread of cashless societies.D.To show the influence of cashless payments on people's life.4.What is one reason why the author is against a cashless society?A.It is inconvenient for small transactions.B.It puts some people at a disadvantage.C.It puts the underbanked in danger.D.It encourages physical crimes.二、七选五5. In higher education, 21st-century librarians are seeing their roles changing. University library buildings are also taking a new look. However, one thing is clear: ①_________Libraries meet students' new needs digitallyTo support modem research, libraries will need to offer students access to the digital versions of scholarly research. Ringling College of Art and Design set out to create a library that would better provide its students with the services they actually need. ②_________Flexible workspaces③_________ Most commonly, universities are redesigning libraries to make them suitable for collaboration(合作) —meaning open, social spaces where small and large groups can gather and share materials. For example, Norwich University in Vermont decided to create more high-tech collaboration spaces in its library by designing 11 group study rooms that have movable furniture. Modern libraries need digitally well-informed librariansIn today's university culture, librarians should make sure students have solid understanding of the digital resources they are using. ④_________ These and other changes are also influencing the way that universities teach the next generation of library professionals. At the University of Michigan, a new library science program will create education models that help future librarians complete the difficult tasks of supporting researchers.Digital tools give libraries staying power⑤_________ However, university libraries are here to stay. By using digital tools and creating flexible spaces, libraries will continue to be relevant to colleges. In fact, digital tools have made it even easier for libraries to serve students.A. University libraries are here to stay.B. Librarians are going to lose their occupations.C. Libraries are disappearing in this technology age.D. One must-have characteristic, for example, was a 24-hour computer lab.E. For example, librarians can help students get reliable information better.F. Some people predicted that the next generation would witness the death of printed books.G. Changing study habits also give libraries an opportunity to redesign their physical spaces.三、完形填空6. Molai grew up in a tiny village in India. The village lay near some wetlands which became hissecond 1 . He learned the value and beauty of 2 there from a very young age.When he was 16, Molai began to notice something 3 happening around his home. A flood had hit the area earlier that year and the 4 it caused had driven away a number of birds. 5 , the number of snakes had declined as well. He 6 that it was because there weren't enough trees to protect them from the 7 . The solution, of course, was to plant trees so the animals could seek 8 during the daytime. He turned to the 9 department for help but was told that nothing would grow there. However, Molai went looking on his own and 10 a nearby island where he began to plant trees.11 young plants in the dry season was 12 for a lone boy. Molai built at the 13 of each sapling(幼树) a bamboo platform, where he placed earthen pots with small holes to 14 rainwater. The water would then (滴落) on the plants below.Molai 15 to plant trees for the next 37 years. His efforts have resulted in 1,360 acres of naturally-grown land that has become home to many plants and animals.1.A.dream B.job C.home D.choice2.A.nature B.youth C.culture D.knowledge3.A.precious B.interesting C.disturbing D.awkward4.A.waste B.tension C.pain D.damage5.A.Besides B.However C.Therefore D.Otherwise6.A.agreed B.realized C.remembered D.predicted7.A.noise B.heat C.disease D.dust8.A.directions B.partners C.help D.shelterbor B.police C.forest D.finance10.A.rebuilt B.discovered C.left D.managed11.A.Decorating B.Observing C.Watering D.Guarding12.A.tough B.illegal C.fantastic D.beneficial13.A.back B.top C.foot D.side14.A.cool down B.keep off C.purify D.collect15.A.returned B.learned C.failed D.continued四、语法填空7. Many people find new emojis an exciting way of communicating. They expand upon the waywe communicate. Emojis, by design, make a direct link between written communication and the "real" world, by using pictures or icons that represent ideas or emotions. They are accessible, so we also don't ①_________(necessary) substitute (代替) an English word for an emoji when we read a text ②(contain) one.So then how should we consider emojis collectively? Are they a "language", when they ③_________(use) only in writing? You can send someone an entire message ④_________ (compose) of emojis. But you probably can't use emojis by ⑤_________(they) as a self-contained way of communicating with people without sooner or later turning to English or another language. In this way emojis differ from languages like English or more specialist languages like British Sign Language, and this is ⑥_________most linguists wouldn't say that emojis can be considered a language in the strict sense, even though it's ⑦_________ (impress) how much content people can often manage ⑧_________ (communicate) using them.However, people do use the word "language" metaphorically (隐喻地)—as is the case when people talk about the programming language, body language, and the language of dance—to describe all sorts of methods of communicating ⑨_________ don't meet all of the criteria(标准) for a linguist's definition of a language like English, and therefore it's not surprising that people also often refer to emojis ⑩_________ a pictorial "language".五、写作8.假设你是红星中学高二的学生李华,你的英国朋友Peter想了解中国近40年来发生的变化以及人们对中国未来发展的期待。
